Ep 55: TED Talker/Author/Network Science Expert, David Burkus

David Burkus is a best-selling author, a sought after speaker (his TED talk has been viewed almost 2 million times and he delivers keynotes and workshops at HUGE Fortune 500 companies that are household names), and a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review. He's an associate professor of leadership and innovation at Oral Roberts University, where he was recently named one of the nation’s “Top 40 Under 40 Professors Who Inspire.” In this special episode, I drop the usual format of discussing my guest's Origin Story to pick David's brain about the very useful and applicable concepts of his latest book, Friend of a Friend, instead. You'll walk away with a new perspective on how to grow the community within which you work and live, and build key connections. But you'll hear about the science of human behavior rather than cheesy, rote "networking" advice. Above all, you'll realize that being a good person who looks to add value before getting value is the best way to become a better connector.

SHOW NOTES:

If you're trying to "do someone else's advice", it is not authentic to you, (9:40). Network Science vs. Networking: we don't "have a network", we exist inside a network, (10:25). Feeling dirty vs talking with a friend, (14:40). Number 1 Network Science Rule: be a good human being, (20:40). Nobody wants to have coffee with you, (23:43). Excuses, everyone has them. There is always something you can do to help your cause, even if it's small, (28:20). How to properly introduce Person A to Person B: Double opt-in: "Let me check with them" - make sure the expected action is stated, (30:20). Email lists, only good for fans/followers - not necessarily within your industry (40:35). Its too bad people think that "networking" is only about sales & job hunting, it's about caring about your network and who you can help, (41:45). Multiplexity: having more than one reason to hang with someone. More likely to find this when you have deeper conversations with people over longer periods of time, (43:10). Most "Personality" Tests do not accurately assess whether someone is an introvert or an extravert - most people are ambiverts, a combo of both, (45:25). Work friends make us more productive, except when they stress us out, (47:40).

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